July 14th 1862: Gustav Klimt Born

Vintage Bermuda postcard designed by Adolph Treidler. 

Hanukkah at the White House

Among the gifts from heads of state that are in the holdings of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum is a menorah presented to President Truman by Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion. The menorah dates back to at least 1767, when it was donated to a synagogue in Buergel, Germany.

The menorah was used in the synagogue until 1913, when it was found broken in pieces.  A man by the name of Siegfried Guggenheim asked for the broken pieces and provided a replacement. The Guggenheim family restored the old menorah for their personal use, and brought it to the United States when they immigrated in the 1930s.  Eventually, the menorah was acquired by the Jewish Museum in New York.

When Prime Minister Ben-Gurion visited the United States in 1951, he searched for a suitable gift to give to Harry S. Truman in light of the President’s recognition and support of the State of Israel.  The Jewish Museum suggested the menorah, and Prime Minister Ben-Gurion presented it to Truman on his birthday, May 8, 1951.  Read More

Photos: Menorah presented to Harry S. Truman by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and Ambassador to the U.S. Abba Eban, of Isreal on May 8, 1951.  The menorah is currently on Display at the Truman Library.

Happy Hanukkah!

Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964).

George Elgar Hicks - On the seashore (1879)

Sorry Chris Pratt, but Indiana Jones probably won’t be recast

If Indiana Jones producer Frank Marshall has his way, no one but Harrison Ford will ever pick up Indy’s whip and fedora.

Meeting with the Jewish Shepherd Avraham Herzlich in the field with his goat outside Tapuach (at צומת תפוח)

Charming Baker • “Intelligence is No Match for Adaptability,” 2008 • The House Sale • Aug 19 — Sep 01

This is a JMN Poster (Jewish Multiracial Network) aimed at advancing Jewish diversity through community building and empowerment with Jewish people of Color and Jewish multiracial families.

It may be summer outside, but this painting is giving us chills. Don’t miss “Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel and the New Painting” before it closes on September 13. “Lavacourt under Snow,” c. 1878–80, by Claude Monet (The National Gallery, London. Sir Hugh Lane Bequest, 1917)

“Jewish Wedding” by Jozef Israëls (1824-1911),1903